It's a good point, the CX programme works out as segments by cost, and look what happened when MPC introduced those changes, the previously (and like me stupidly) loyal flyers over-paying in PEY and Y walked. Regular flyers at the back end may not bring the margins, but they do provide less-cyclical revenue flow. Losing this may seem minor when creating their models but once this cash disappears it does make a significant dent as CX has discovered.

I agree with the principle that there ought to be reasonable levels of earnings to get the tiered rewards of memberships, but I think the airlines are in danger of taking in to an extreme by reducing membership numbers at the top levels to the very exclusive.

This only encourages people to go 'free agent' meaning the airlines will be back to competing on cost creating new fare wars. Bad for the airlines, but perhaps good for the consumer.